Supporting New Ideas, New Discoveries And Jobs In Waterloo Region McGuinty Government Boosts World-Leading Research
March 1, 2010
Source: Exchange Morning Post
Ontario is helping researchers in Waterloo Region make new discoveries that will improve the lives of people around the world while building our economy at home. The province is investing $20,826,487 to support 6 leading-edge research projects at the University of Waterloo. The funding comes from the Ontario Research Fund– Research Excellence program, which helps cover the operating costs of conducting advanced research, such as salaries for researchers. Funding world-class research is part of Ontario’s Innovation Agenda – the McGuinty government’s plan to build an innovation economy that turns new knowledge into new jobs, better health care, a cleaner environment and endless possibilities for Ontario families.
The following six projects at the University of Waterloo are receiving funding:
Advancing Nanotechnology
Development of Novel Scanning Probe Tools for Applications in Atomically Precise Fabrication, Characterization and Metrology Developing the next generation of Nano Devices Lead researcher: Dr. Raafat Mansour Provincial funding: $1,600,000 Number of researchers affected: 10
Key private sector partners: Agilent Technologies, Vecco Instruments Inc. and Integrated Circuit Scanning Probe Instruments Corp. (ICSPI) Nanotechnology has the potential to create many new products with a vast range of applications. But the science cannot advance without the tools to accurately see, control and fabricate new materials and devices at the nano-scale. Developing those tools is the goal of research being conducted by Dr. Raafat Mansour at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Mansour and his team are leveraging recent engineering developments in scanning probe microscopy techniques and micro-scale scanning probe instrument to create the next generation of nano devices. These devices will help Ontario industries ranging from automotive to biotech to information and communications technologies gain a competitive edge in a market that is expected to reach $2.5 trillion by 2015.
Green Intelligent Transportation Systems
Designing the cars and highways of the future
Lead researcher: Dr. Amir Khajepour Provincial funding: $8,000,000 Number of researchers affected: 26 Key private sector partners: Sound Design Technologies Ltd., Podcar Vehicle Systems Inc., Delcan Corporation
University of Waterloo researcher Dr. Amir Khajepour believes the future of the auto industry will include intelligent, eco-friendly electric cars, and he is not alone in that belief. Industry analysts predict that by 2030 the majority of vehicles sold in North America will be electric [1]. But the shift from gasoline-powered to electric cars will affect everything from the design and manufacture of the vehicles themselves, to the supporting infrastructure they require - and that is what interests Dr. Khajepour. He is leading a multi-disciplinary team of researchers who are addressing the entire green transportation paradigm, from the vehicle and vehicle intelligence, through power generation and distribution, to the effects of electric vehicles on traffic flow and infrastructure. The team's research will help keep Ontario at the forefront in the highly competitive green auto industry now taking hold in North America.
Next Generation Web Approaches and Tools
Defining and developing the next generation Internet Lead researcher: Dr. Donald Cowan Provincial funding: $2,096,538 Number of researchers affected: 3 Key private sector partners: Centre for Community Mapping (COMAP), Sybase iAnywhere Inc.
The World Wide Web has revolutionized the ways we connect with people: how we buy and sell, meet, work, govern and even create. Experts agree: the next generation of web technology promises to be even more powerful and transformative than the existing one. With our expertise in ICT, Ontario has an unprecedented opportunity to define, build and deploy the services that will form the foundation of the next generation of webbased applications – and that is the focus of research being conducted by Dr. Donald Cowan at the University of Waterloo. His work aims to keep Ontario – and Ontario ICT companies – in the lead in a sector that’s changing rapidly.
Multi-platform Digital Media Enabling Technologies
New technologies to improve workflow for digital media producers Lead researcher: Dr. Tamer Ozsu Provincial funding: $4,899,045 Number of researchers affected: 16 Key private sector partners: Side Effects Software Inc., Deluxe Postproduction (Deluxe Toronto Ltd.), QNX Software Systems Co.
The entertainment industry is changing and quickly. Digital media producers are being challenged to manage the creative process efficiently from concept through to delivery, while using multiple technologies (e.g., live action, animation, 3D special effects) on multiple platforms (e.g., film, television, Xbox). Led by Dr. Tamer Ozsu, a team of researchers from the University of Waterloo and the Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning are combining their expertise to develop new technologies to facilitate workflow. It is groundbreaking research that will enhance the bottom line for producers, while establishing Ontario’s reputation as a global leader in enabling technologies and the production of digital content.
Privacy and Security in Mobile Ad Hoc Communications and Embedded Systems
Developing next generation security solutions for mobile communications Lead researcher: Dr. Guang Gong Provincial funding: $1,752,830 Number of researchers affected: 6 Key private sector partners: Authenticrypt Corporation, Pitney Bowes, Inc., Research in Motion Ltd.
From cell phones to digital audio players to global positioning systems, mobile ad hoc communication and embedded systems are becoming an indispensable part of our daily lives. They have a wide range of applications, including emergency response, disaster relief, teleconferencing and automated toll-payment, and practically limitless future applications. But their rapid development is raising serious privacy and security concerns that current technologies cannot solve. At the University of Waterloo Dr. Guang Gong and her team are focused on developing new security solutions for current and emerging ad hoc communication and embedded systems. It is research that will give Ontario’s ICT industry an important competitive edge.
Retinal Oxygen Saturation, Blood Flow, Vascular Function and High Resolution Morphometric Imaging in the Living Human Eye
Developing instruments to combat an epidemic of vision loss Lead researcher: Dr. Christopher Hudson Provincial funding: $2,478,074 Number of researchers affected: 9 Key private sector partners: Photon etc. Inc., Optovue Inc.
More than three million Canadians suffer from severe vision loss, a figure that will increase dramatically over the next decade as baby boomers age. Vision loss robs individuals of their quality of life and costs the economy an estimated $15.8 billion a year. While the majority of vision loss is preventable, better tools are needed to combat the pending epidemic. At the Universities of Waterloo and Toronto, Dr. Christopher Hudson and his team of researchers are developing retinal imaging instruments that will allow the early detection and improved management of the three most common causes of age-related vision loss: macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. His research will not only help reduce health care costs, it will position Ontario as a leader in ocular imaging R&D and lead to new opportunities for Ontario’s ophthalmic device sector.
Source: Exchange Morning Post
Ontario is helping researchers in Waterloo Region make new discoveries that will improve the lives of people around the world while building our economy at home. The province is investing $20,826,487 to support 6 leading-edge research projects at the University of Waterloo. The funding comes from the Ontario Research Fund– Research Excellence program, which helps cover the operating costs of conducting advanced research, such as salaries for researchers. Funding world-class research is part of Ontario’s Innovation Agenda – the McGuinty government’s plan to build an innovation economy that turns new knowledge into new jobs, better health care, a cleaner environment and endless possibilities for Ontario families.
The following six projects at the University of Waterloo are receiving funding:
Advancing Nanotechnology
Development of Novel Scanning Probe Tools for Applications in Atomically Precise Fabrication, Characterization and Metrology Developing the next generation of Nano Devices Lead researcher: Dr. Raafat Mansour Provincial funding: $1,600,000 Number of researchers affected: 10
Key private sector partners: Agilent Technologies, Vecco Instruments Inc. and Integrated Circuit Scanning Probe Instruments Corp. (ICSPI) Nanotechnology has the potential to create many new products with a vast range of applications. But the science cannot advance without the tools to accurately see, control and fabricate new materials and devices at the nano-scale. Developing those tools is the goal of research being conducted by Dr. Raafat Mansour at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Mansour and his team are leveraging recent engineering developments in scanning probe microscopy techniques and micro-scale scanning probe instrument to create the next generation of nano devices. These devices will help Ontario industries ranging from automotive to biotech to information and communications technologies gain a competitive edge in a market that is expected to reach $2.5 trillion by 2015.
Green Intelligent Transportation Systems
Designing the cars and highways of the future
Lead researcher: Dr. Amir Khajepour Provincial funding: $8,000,000 Number of researchers affected: 26 Key private sector partners: Sound Design Technologies Ltd., Podcar Vehicle Systems Inc., Delcan Corporation
University of Waterloo researcher Dr. Amir Khajepour believes the future of the auto industry will include intelligent, eco-friendly electric cars, and he is not alone in that belief. Industry analysts predict that by 2030 the majority of vehicles sold in North America will be electric [1]. But the shift from gasoline-powered to electric cars will affect everything from the design and manufacture of the vehicles themselves, to the supporting infrastructure they require - and that is what interests Dr. Khajepour. He is leading a multi-disciplinary team of researchers who are addressing the entire green transportation paradigm, from the vehicle and vehicle intelligence, through power generation and distribution, to the effects of electric vehicles on traffic flow and infrastructure. The team's research will help keep Ontario at the forefront in the highly competitive green auto industry now taking hold in North America.
Next Generation Web Approaches and Tools
Defining and developing the next generation Internet Lead researcher: Dr. Donald Cowan Provincial funding: $2,096,538 Number of researchers affected: 3 Key private sector partners: Centre for Community Mapping (COMAP), Sybase iAnywhere Inc.
The World Wide Web has revolutionized the ways we connect with people: how we buy and sell, meet, work, govern and even create. Experts agree: the next generation of web technology promises to be even more powerful and transformative than the existing one. With our expertise in ICT, Ontario has an unprecedented opportunity to define, build and deploy the services that will form the foundation of the next generation of webbased applications – and that is the focus of research being conducted by Dr. Donald Cowan at the University of Waterloo. His work aims to keep Ontario – and Ontario ICT companies – in the lead in a sector that’s changing rapidly.
Multi-platform Digital Media Enabling Technologies
New technologies to improve workflow for digital media producers Lead researcher: Dr. Tamer Ozsu Provincial funding: $4,899,045 Number of researchers affected: 16 Key private sector partners: Side Effects Software Inc., Deluxe Postproduction (Deluxe Toronto Ltd.), QNX Software Systems Co.
The entertainment industry is changing and quickly. Digital media producers are being challenged to manage the creative process efficiently from concept through to delivery, while using multiple technologies (e.g., live action, animation, 3D special effects) on multiple platforms (e.g., film, television, Xbox). Led by Dr. Tamer Ozsu, a team of researchers from the University of Waterloo and the Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning are combining their expertise to develop new technologies to facilitate workflow. It is groundbreaking research that will enhance the bottom line for producers, while establishing Ontario’s reputation as a global leader in enabling technologies and the production of digital content.
Privacy and Security in Mobile Ad Hoc Communications and Embedded Systems
Developing next generation security solutions for mobile communications Lead researcher: Dr. Guang Gong Provincial funding: $1,752,830 Number of researchers affected: 6 Key private sector partners: Authenticrypt Corporation, Pitney Bowes, Inc., Research in Motion Ltd.
From cell phones to digital audio players to global positioning systems, mobile ad hoc communication and embedded systems are becoming an indispensable part of our daily lives. They have a wide range of applications, including emergency response, disaster relief, teleconferencing and automated toll-payment, and practically limitless future applications. But their rapid development is raising serious privacy and security concerns that current technologies cannot solve. At the University of Waterloo Dr. Guang Gong and her team are focused on developing new security solutions for current and emerging ad hoc communication and embedded systems. It is research that will give Ontario’s ICT industry an important competitive edge.
Retinal Oxygen Saturation, Blood Flow, Vascular Function and High Resolution Morphometric Imaging in the Living Human Eye
Developing instruments to combat an epidemic of vision loss Lead researcher: Dr. Christopher Hudson Provincial funding: $2,478,074 Number of researchers affected: 9 Key private sector partners: Photon etc. Inc., Optovue Inc.
More than three million Canadians suffer from severe vision loss, a figure that will increase dramatically over the next decade as baby boomers age. Vision loss robs individuals of their quality of life and costs the economy an estimated $15.8 billion a year. While the majority of vision loss is preventable, better tools are needed to combat the pending epidemic. At the Universities of Waterloo and Toronto, Dr. Christopher Hudson and his team of researchers are developing retinal imaging instruments that will allow the early detection and improved management of the three most common causes of age-related vision loss: macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. His research will not only help reduce health care costs, it will position Ontario as a leader in ocular imaging R&D and lead to new opportunities for Ontario’s ophthalmic device sector.
“The Waterloo Region is at the core of an unmatched matrix of business and technology success facilitators:
John Keating, CEO
COM DEV
- a pool of top talent from Canada’s best constellation of post-secondary schools
- Canada’s most direct routes to multiple crossing to US markets
- Canada’s largest international airport
- a tremendously contagious community spirit of success
- one of the best networks of businesses and support organizations anywhere
John Keating, CEO
COM DEV
